title: Trend of complementary therapies in paediatric age group.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the knowledge of mothers regarding commonly used Complimentary alternative medicines, their usage and various therapeutic choices for common ailments.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional Survey on a predesigned proforma was done from July 2007- August 2007 in the out patient department of a tertiary care hospital. Consent was taken from the participants and 375 complete proformas were included in the study out of 500 interviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 375 mothers who were interviewed, 237 (63.2%) believed in alternative medicine whereas 138 (36.8%) did not believe in it. Complimentary alternative medicines (CAM) was used most often in children with respiratory tract and gastro intestinal symptoms, the most frequently used therapy was Honey 58.9% and Joshanda 31.2%, followed by Heeng 11.3% and brandy being used in 2.8% for respiratory complaints. Gastrointestinal symptoms were treated with Saunf water 28.4%, mint 20.6% and ajwain 17.7%. Higher education level was associated with more complementary medicine use. Majority of mothers used it for gastrointestinal problems and respiratory problems 24% and 22.2% respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mothers are aware of various available CAM and are using them for different ailments like honey for respiratory illnesses, Saunf and Ajwain for gastrointestinal problems as they have been found to have linctus and antispasmodic effects respectively. It has also been observed that the CAM was used in combination with other therapeutic modalities and not alone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Jinnah Medical College and Hospital, Karachi.
authors.forename: Sohail
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ashraf
authors.forename: Arshalooz Jamila
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: Heema
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Satwani
authors.forename: Farha
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Naz
authors.forename: Kashif
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Abbas
authors.forename: Anwar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hassan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult